A pastor in Louisiana was fatally shot in front of his congregation Friday night, local NBC affiliate KPLC reports.

Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was preaching at the Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center in Lake Charles, in the southwestern corner of the state, when a man reportedly walked into the church and fired shots. Harris was declared dead at the scene.

The gunman has been identified as 53-year-old Woodrow Karey Jr. A spokesperson from the local sheriff’s office said Karey allegedly shot the pastor twice — once when he first walked in, and again, at a closer range, once Harris fell to the floor. Karey fled on foot but later called 911 and confessed, police said.

If there is a bright side to this story, which is part of the human experience, at least he didn't drive a truck through the church. When people become troubled in their mind they sometimes do terrible things, it would be nice if we could see it coming, unfortunately like weather it's a very unpredictable realm.

well at lease we no his chances of being in heaven is 75% !!! not that im making it as a joke. im sorry . but any life that's takeing wether it in church on the street at the mall. is a major tragedy. my heart goes out to his family.

Thank you to the Jewish writer Samantha Grossman and Jewish-owned Time magazine for bringing us this important news article. It makes it crystal clear that we need to ban churches because if this pastor hadn't been predictably in front of his congregation like this, this wouldn't have happened. Likewise the killer probably knew him through the church in the first place. So obviously, CHURCHES are the problem. And we need Feinstein and Schumer to pass legislation outlawing churches.

If society is willing to stoop so low as to kill a Pastor preaching to a crowd at the local church, there needs to be a cleansing of society itself. If a church-goer cannot find sanctuary in a local church, there is something so seriously wrong with this Country, that there might not be sufficient time for religious organizations to catch up on local and nation wide criminal activities to prevent another one of their preachers from being brutally murdered while spreading the word of the gospel. This individual who decided to shoot to kill, another individual (regardless of what creed, sex, nationality, or religious bearing), has taken upon himself the moral consequence of degeneracy, and should be 'stoned' for his actions!

@CurtMayer March 9, 2009 Maryville, Il - Pastor Fred Winters shot and killed by unknown assailant in church service; 2 others wounded by assailant. Look it up...not known by victim, no motive, and unable to stand trial due to mental incompetence (even though he had a list of things to do leading up to shooting).

It's not society it's just one person, a man with a plan to do harm to others.

You sound as if you have never heard of a person or persons being killed in a place of worship. Ease up there skippy, a cleansing? maybe a visit to Bellview for a few well earned days of rest would do your high blood pressure some good! One man kills another, it's one of the oldest stories ever told. Even God didn't feel the need at that time for a cleansing, just a mark To let us know who the bad guy was.

@birdymckee As the article says, " the motive remains unknown", the Pastor could
have been screwing the guys wife, cheated family members out of money,
who knows. Just because someone is a preacher doesn't necessarily mean
that they are not corrupt - it could just be a case of biblical justice.

@LebekJohnson What bible are you reading? biblical justice? really? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. @birdymckee@LebekJohnson Just because people killed other people for their wrongs in the bible doesnt mean that's what God wants. those were stories in the bible. Not examples of what should happen! I understand what you both are saying but I doubt that would resolve anything. Either way one man is still dead and one man is probably going to Jail for the rest of his life.